Whenever the question comes up "would you choose McCartney or Lennon", some wanker has to come along and claim Harrison is his favourite Beatle. Now admittedly it's pretty well all brilliant, but when it comes to individuals, in a way i honestly have to say that i am drawn more to George as a human being and appreciate the WAY in which he went about expressing himself within the band and in his solo career. I know that the question was in part about who is your favourite songwriter but i honestly think that he had a lot more in him than he was never let to bring to the studio by his overbearing bandmates. Admittedly, it was that overbearing quality of John and Paul's that made the songwriting duo so successful but it was also no co-incidence that it was Harrison who was first out of the blocks and most successful when it came to early solo careers.

Of all the member's solo album's, it is "All Things Must Pass" that i have always been most attached to. Introspective, deliberate, crafted, passionate and soulful ...not overtly popish or bitter as some of his peers work was, it endures and is perennially listenable.

I think that George's contribution to the Beatles is often under-acknowledged. Though the quiet Beatle, i always thought of him as the glue that held them together or the lubricant that kept them moving forward through all their turmoil. His interest in the east had such a profound influence on the group that is cannot be discounted.

I love the Beatles and their music but in the same way that I am drawn to the songs of The Edge, I love those of Harrison. When given the opportunity to speak, he really shone. The things he said with his music stood out and were always stood out as powerful moments within (Within and Without You) albums.

Ah! what do you expect from a wanker!

On a similar note, i was interested to hear much focus on Double Fantasy recently as it was the 30th anniversary of it's release. I admittedly do not know the album in it's entirety but only cuts that i have heard over the years on the radio etc ...it might be time for me to give it a solid listen as i found it quite inspiring to hear the stories of it's creation. The anniversary of John's murder never goes by without it jarring me, but now it comes upon me as i realize that my years roll quickly on, and he, only 40 when he died ...such accomplishments in such a short life.